Method of using a touch screen and user interface apparatus employing the same

ABSTRACT

A user interface apparatus and method of using a touch screen are provided. The apparatus includes a touch screen division unit for dividing a screen area of the touch screen into zones, an allocation unit for allocating a user interface unit to each of the zones and a plurality of user interface units for sensing job commands input through the zones according to the allocation result of the allocation unit, wherein an operation corresponding to each of the sensed job commands is performed. Accordingly, since a plurality of users can simultaneously use an image-forming device by dividing the screen area of the touch screen into two or more zones, job processing time can be reduced, and a usage rate of a high specification image-forming device can be increased.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under U.S.C. §119(a) of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2005-0103424, filed on Oct. 31, 2005, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image-forming device. Moreparticularly, the instant invention relates to a user interfaceapparatus and method for allowing a plurality of users to simultaneouslyuse an image-forming device having a touch screen.

2. Description of the Related Art

A touch screen is designed to execute a command or move a cursor byrecognizing a contact point when a user touches the touch screen using afinger or a touch pen having a ballpoint pen shape. The touch screen isa user interface method used in various fields, such as personal digitalassistants (PDAs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), cathode ray tubes(CRTs), banks, authorities, medical equipment, tourism, organizationguides, and traffic guides.

In touch screen technology, a pressure sensing method and anelectrostatic method may be used. The pressure sensing method is amethod of calculating the coordinates of a pressurized location byinstalling sensors closely together that sense pressure exerted on thesurface of the touch screen and sense the degree of pressure when thepressure is exerted. The pressure sensing method is widely used, but itsaccuracy is low. The electrostatic method has greater accuracy than thepressure sensing method. The electrostatic method calculates thecoordinates of a touched location by charging the surface of the touchscreen, installing sensors around the touch screen, and sensing theamount of charge lost when touching the touch screen.

Recently, medium or large sized image-forming devices, such as printersor multi-function peripherals (MFPs), generally use a touch screen as auser interface for users' convenience. In general, a plurality of usersshare such a medium or large sized image-forming device.

However, when operating an image-forming device using a touch screen,only a single user can use the touch screen at a given time. Thus, whena plurality of users want to use the image-forming devicesimultaneously, all but a certain user must wait to use theimage-forming device until the certain user ends his/her work.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved user interface apparatusand method of using a touch screen which allows a plurality of users toemploy the touch screen at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention address at least theabove problems and/or disadvantages and provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is toprovide a user interface apparatus and method of using a touch screen,which allows a plurality of users to simultaneously use the touch screenby dividing a screen area of the touch screen into two or more zones.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided auser interface apparatus of a touch screen, the apparatus comprising atouch screen division unit for dividing a screen area of the touchscreen, an allocation unit for allocating a user interface unit to eachof the zones and a plurality of user interface units for sensing jobcommands input through the zones according to the allocation result ofthe allocation unit, wherein an operation corresponding to each of thesensed job commands is performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda user interface method of using a touch screen, the method comprisingdividing a screen area of the touch screen into zones, allocating a userinterface unit to each of the zones, sensing job commands input throughthe zones and performing an operation corresponding to each of thesensed job commands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a user interface apparatus of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-D illustrate layouts for representing zones of a touch screenaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates user interfaces of the exemplary touch screen of FIG.2 divided into two zones;

FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface displaying a job execution processfor the exemplary touch screen of FIG. 3 divided into two zones;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a user interface method of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an operation of FIG. 5according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will beunderstood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed constructionand elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding ofthe embodiments of the invention and are merely exemplary. Accordingly,those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changesand modifications of the embodiments described herein can be madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also,descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted forclarity and conciseness.

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of theinvention are shown.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a user interface apparatus of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.The user interface apparatus includes a mode selection input unit 90, atouch screen division unit 100, an allocation unit 110, and firstthrough nth (n is a positive integer larger than 1) user interface units120 through 140.

Using the mode selection input unit 90, a user inputs a mode selectionfor dividing the screen area of the touch screen. The user selects amode for area division of the touch screen so that the screen area isdivided into at least two zones.

The mode selection input unit 90 may be an operating panel that senses amode selection signal generated by a key panel operation of the user.

The mode selection input unit 90 can receive a mode selection signalwhen an image-forming device is in an idle state or is performing a job,such as printing or copying. That is, although a job of a certain usermay be proceeding, the same user or another user can input a modeselection for area division of the touch screen through the modeselection input unit 90.

The touch screen division unit 100 divides the screen area of the touchscreen into zones and outputs the division result to the allocation unit110. To do this, the touch screen division unit 100 includes a layoutdisplay unit 102, a layout sensing unit 104, and an area division unit106.

The layout display unit 102 displays sample layouts of the zones of thetouch screen. Each of the sample layouts of the touch screen may beobtained by dividing the touch screen into at least two zones.

FIGS. 2A-D illustrate sample layouts for representing zones of the touchscreen according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG.2A is an example in which the touch screen is divided into two zones,FIG. 2B is an example in which the touch screen is divided into threezones, FIG. 2C is another example in which the touch screen is dividedinto three zones, and FIG. 2D is an example in which the touch screen isdivided into four zones. However, FIGS. 2A-D show only examples of theways the touch screen may be divided.

The layout sensing unit 104 senses a layout selected by the user amongthe displayed layouts and outputs the sensing result to the areadivision unit 106.

The area division unit 106 divides the screen area of the touch screeninto zones corresponding to the layout sensed by the layout sensing unit104. For example, if the user selects the area division illustrated inFIG. 2A, the area division unit 106 divides the touch screen asillustrated in FIG. 2A.

The allocation unit 110 allocates the first through nth user interfaceunits 120, 130, and 140 to corresponding zones of the touch screen andoutputs the division result to the first through nth user interfaceunits 120, 130, and 140.

For example, if the touch screen division unit 100 has divided thescreen area of the touch screen into two zones as illustrated in FIG.2A, the allocation unit 110 allocates the first user interface unit 120to a zone A and outputs the allocation result to the first userinterface unit 120. The allocation unit 110 also allocates the seconduser interface unit 130 to a zone B and outputs the allocation result tothe second user interface unit 130.

Each of the first through nth user interface units 120, 130, and 140displays a user interface corresponding to each of the zones accordingto the allocation result.

FIG. 3 illustrates user interfaces of the touch screen divided into twozones.

For example, if the allocation unit 110 allocates that the first userinterface unit 120 is allocated to the divided zone A of FIG. 2A, thefirst user interface unit 120 displays a user interface on the dividedzone A as illustrated in FIG. 3. If the allocation unit 110 allocatesthat the second user interface unit 130 is allocated to the divided zoneB of FIG. 2A, the second user interface unit 130 displays a userinterface on the divided zone B as further illustrated in FIG. 3.

Each of the first through nth user interface units 120, 130, and 140senses a job command input through each of the zones.

For example, when a user selects any of a printing job, a copy job, ascanning job, a fax job and the like through the user interfaceallocated to the divided zone A, the first user interface unit 120senses the job command selected by the user. Moreover, the secondthrough nth user interface units 130 and 140 also sense the job commandselected by the user. When another user selects any one of a printingjob, a copy job, a scanning job, a fax job and the like through the userinterface of the divided zone B, the second user interface unit 130senses that job command selected by the user. Similarly, the first andnth user interface units 120 and 140 also sense the job command selectedby the another user.

When a new job (for example, Scan, Fax, or Print) is registered for adevice that is currently being used for a proceeding job previouslyinput from among the displayed user interfaces, the first through nthuser interface units 120, 130, and 140 may inactivate input buttons ofjobs that are typically performed immediately. The buttons that areinactivated are returned to active when the device is ready for useafter the registered job is complete. In addition, the first through nthuser interface units 120, 130, and 140 may activate input buttons,except buttons associated with the currently proceeding job, among thedisplayed user interfaces.

A new job can be registered during printing, and the registered job isperformed as soon as a previous job ends. However, for scanning, a newscanning job may not be registered while the device is scanning. Forexample, while a document for copy is being scanned, input buttons“Copy,” “Scan,” and “ScanToEmail” are inactivated. When the scanning ofthe document for copy ends, input buttons not overlapping with acurrently proceeding job are activated. For faxing, a new job may or maynot be registered according to the type of a currently proceeding job.

FIG. 4 illustrates the divided touch screen of FIG. 3 when a userinterface displays a job execution process. If a user selects a printingjob command through the user interface displayed on the divided zone Aof FIG. 3, an image indicating that a printing job is proceeding may bedisplayed on the divided zone A as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The user interface units 120, 130, and 140 of the touch screen describedabove may be included in an MFP. The MFP includes a printing device, acopy device, a scanning device, a facsimile and the like.

A user interface method of a touch screen according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a user interface method of a touchscreen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a mode selection for area division of the touchscreen is input in operation 200. The mode selection can be input whenan image-forming device is in an idle state or is performing a job, suchas printing or copying.

A screen area of the touch screen is divided in operation 202.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart illustrating operation 202 of FIG. 5according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Possible layouts of the zones of the touch screen are displayed inoperation 300. Each of the layouts of the touch screen may be obtainedby dividing the touch screen into at least two zones. As illustrated inFIGS. 2A through 2D, various layouts can be displayed.

A layout selected by a user among the displayed layouts is sensed inoperation 302.

The screen area of the touch screen is divided to correspond to thesensed layout in operation 304.

A relative number of user interface units are allocated to the zones inoperation 204. For example, if the touch screen is divided into twozones in operation 202 as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the first userinterface unit 120 is allocated to zone A and the second user interfaceunit 130 is allocated to zone B.

In operation 206, user interfaces corresponding to the zones aredisplayed, and job commands input through the user interfaces of thezones are sensed.

For example, if the first user interface unit 120 is allocated to thedivided zone A of FIG. 2A, the first user interface unit 120 displays auser interface on the divided zone A as illustrated in FIG. 3. If thesecond user interface unit 130 is allocated to the divided zone B ofFIG. 2A, the second user interface unit 130 displays a user interface onthe divided zone B as illustrated in FIG. 3. In particular, when a newjob (for example Scan, Fax, or Print) is registered for a devicecurrently being used for a proceeding job previously input from amongthe displayed user interfaces, the first and second user interface units120 and 130 may inactivate input buttons of jobs that are typicallyperformed immediately. The buttons that are inactivated are returned toactive when the device is ready for use after the registered job iscomplete. In addition, input buttons, except buttons associated with thecurrently proceeding job among the displayed user interfaces may beactivated.

Each of the user interface units corresponding to the zones senses thata job command is input through a relative user interface.

For example, when a user selects any one of a printing job, a copy job,a scanning job, a fax job and the like through the user interface of thedivided zone A illustrated in FIG. 3, the first user interface unit 120senses a job command selected by the user. Moreover, the second throughnth user interface units 130 and 140 also sense the job command selectedby the user. When another user selects any one of a printing job, a copyjob, a scanning job, a fax job and the like through the user interfaceof the divided zone B illustrated in FIG. 3, the second user interfaceunit 130 senses a job command selected by the user. Similarly, the firstand nth user interface units 120 and 140 also sense the job commandselected by the another user.

An operation corresponding to the sensed job command is performed inoperation 208. For example, if the sensed job command is a printing job,a printing job is performed.

The user interface method of a touch screen described above may comprisea MFP including a printing device, a copy device, a scanning device, afacsimile and the like.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be written ascodes/instructions/programs and can be implemented in general-usedigital computers that execute the codes/instructions/programs using acomputer readable recording medium.

Examples of the computer readable recording medium include magneticstorage media (for example, ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.),optical recording media (for example, CD-ROMs, or DVDs), and storagemedia such as carrier waves (for example, transmission through theInternet). The computer readable recording medium can also bedistributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computerreadable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments for accomplishingthe exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be easilyconstrued by programmers skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains.

As described above, using a user interface apparatus and method of atouch screen according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, a plurality of users can simultaneously use an image-formingdevice, and thus, job processing time can be reduced, and other users donot have to wait to use the image-forming device.

In addition, when a single user simultaneously performs a plurality ofjobs, different jobs can be processed in parallel, increasing jobefficiency.

In addition, since a plurality of users can simultaneously use a highspecification image-forming device, a usage rate of the image-formingdevice can be increased.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims and the fullscope of equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user interface apparatus for a touch screen ofa multi-function peripheral (MFP), the multi-function peripheral has atleast two of a printing unit, a scanning unit, a copy unit and afacsimile unit, the user interface apparatus comprising: a modeselection input unit for receiving a selection regarding whether toenable a screen area division function which divides a screen area ofthe touch screen into a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones haveinput buttons for inputting job commands, the plurality of zones arefunctionally identical and logically separated each other such that thejob commands are to be inputted to the plurality of zones separately andindependently; a touch screen division unit for dividing the screen areaof the touch screen into the plurality of zones, if the screen areadivision function is enabled by the received selection; and anallocation unit for allocating a plurality of user interface units toeach of the plurality of zones, respectively, the plurality of userinterface units inactivate a specific input button from among the jobbuttons of the plurality of zones while a job corresponding to thespecific input button is being performed.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the mode selection input unit inputs the selection while a jobis performed.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch screendivision unit comprises: a layout display unit for displaying layouts ofthe touch screen; a layout sensing unit for sensing a selected layoutamong the displayed layouts; and an area division unit for dividing thescreen area of the touch screen to correspond to the sensed selectedlayout.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the layouts of the touchscreen are obtained by dividing the screen area of the touch screen intoat least two zones.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pluralityof user interface units display user interfaces according to theselected layout.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality ofuser interface units comprise input buttons for controlling the jobcommands.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of userinterface units inactivate input buttons corresponding to job commandsthat are typically performed immediately until a device currently beingused for a proceeding job can be used for a new job, after the new jobis registered for the device.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein theplurality of user interface units activate input buttons correspondingto job commands except input buttons associated with a currentlyproceeding job, among the displayed user interfaces.
 9. A user interfaceapparatus of a touch screen of a multi-function peripheral (MFP), themulti-function peripheral has at least two of a printing unit, ascanning unit, a copy unit and a facsimile unit, wherein the screen areaof the touch screen is divided according to a screen area divisionfunction which divides the screen area into a plurality of zones havinginput buttons for inputting job commands, the plurality of zones arefunctionally identical and logically separated each other such that thejob commands are to be inputted to the plurality of zones separately andindependently, and a relative number of user interface units areallocated to the zones, wherein the user interface units inactivate aspecific input button from among the job buttons of the plurality ofzones while a job corresponding to the specific input button is beingperformed.
 10. A method of using a touch screen of a multi-functionperipheral (MFP), the multi-function peripheral has at least two of aprinting unit, a scanning unit, a copy unit and a facsimile unit, themethod comprising the steps of: receiving a selection regarding whetherto enable a screen area division function which divides a screen area ofthe touch screen into a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones haveinput buttons for inputting job commands, the plurality of zones arefunctionally identical and logically separated each other such that thejob commands are to be inputted to the plurality of zones separately andindependently; dividing the screen area of the touch screen into theplurality of zones, if the screen area division function is enabled bythe received selection; allocating a plurality of user interface unitsto each of the plurality of zones respectively; sensing job commandsinput through the plurality of zones; performing an job corresponding toeach of the sensed job commands; and inactivating a specific inputbutton from among the job buttons of the plurality of zones while thejob is being performed.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein, inputting amode selection comprises inputting a mode selection while a job isperformed.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein, inputting a modeselection comprises inputting a mode selection while a device is idle.13. The method of claim 10, wherein dividing a screen area of the touchscreen comprises: displaying layouts of the touch screen; sensing aselected layout among the displayed layouts; and dividing the screenarea of the touch screen to correspond to the sensed selected layout.14. The method of claim 13, wherein the layouts of the touch screen areobtained by dividing the touch screen into at least two zones.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein sensing job commands input through the zonescomprises displaying user interfaces according to the selected layout.16. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing job commands input throughthe zones comprises inactivating input buttons corresponding to jobsthat are typically performed immediately until a device currently beingused for a proceeding job can be used, after a new job is registered forthe device.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein, sensing job commandsinput through the zones comprises activating input buttons correspondingto job commands except input buttons associated with a currentlyproceeding job, among the displayed user interfaces.
 18. A userinterface apparatus for a touch screen of a multi-function peripheral(MFP), the multi-function peripheral has at least two of a printingunit, a scanning unit, a copy unit and a facsimile unit, the userinterface apparatus comprising: a mode selection input unit forreceiving a selection regarding whether to enable a screen area divisionfunction which divides a screen area of the touch screen into aplurality of zones, the plurality of zones have input buttons forinputting job commands, the plurality of zones are functionallyidentical and logically separated each other such that the job commandsare to be inputted to the plurality of zones separately andindependently; a touch screen division unit for dividing the screen areaof the touch screen into the plurality of zones, if the screen areadivision function is enabled by the received selection; wherein each ofthe plurality zones senses job commands input by a user and an jobcorresponding to each of the sensed job commands is performed, wherein aspecific input button corresponding to the job from among the inputbuttons of the plurality of zones is inactivated while the job is beingperformed.